Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools in California

California has 6 ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) School, which provides an associate degree in Occupational Therapy. Plus, the state also has 9 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools in California which provides an entry-level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy degree. The license is required to practice as an OTA in California; one can appear for the licensure examination after clearing the OTA associate degree from accredited OTA schools.

The list of Occupational therapy assistant schools in California are-

1. American Career College-Orange County Campus
2. CBD College
3. Grossmont College
4. Sacramento City College
5. Santa Ana College
6. Stanbridge University

Occupational Therapy in California-

The occupational therapist (OT), Occupational therapy assistant (OTA) and OT/OTA students have their own state association, i.e. OTAC (Occupational Therapy Association of California).

The OTAC is a non-profit volunteer organization which provides a professional community for its members. The OTAC is a state-based professional organization for the occupational therapy profession in California.

Occupational therapist and Occupational therapy assistant work closely with the patient to facilitate the recovery. OT assistant works on all therapy setup and assists OT on assessment and intervention implementation.

The Occupational therapist Assistant has good job opportunities in California. An OTA can also become an Occupational therapist by applying through the bridge program.

Occupational Therapy Assistance License in California-

Graduates of the OTA Program are required to sit for the certification examination administered by the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy). Upon successful completion of the NBCOT exam graduates must apply to the California Board of Occupational Therapy for authorization to practice as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) within the state of California. An OTA becomes COTA after passing the NBCOT exam.

The minimum requirements for the license are –

• An Associate degree in Occupational therapy assistant.
• NBCOT exam’s passing certificate.
• Must complete a background check.
• Initial License fee: $50.

Temporary OTA License / limited OTA license:

A limited permit may be granted to any person who meets the qualifications to be admitted to the examination for licensure and is waiting to take the examination or awaiting the announcement of the results of the examination. According to the application requirements for a limited permit, a candidate may practice as an occupational therapy assistant under the direction and appropriate supervision of an OTR or COTA.

A limited permit shall only be valid for 3 months from the date of issuance by the Board, upon receipt of a failing result, or 2 weeks following the expiration of the applicants’ eligibility to test period, whichever occurs first. Limited permits are issued only once. They cannot be renewed or extended under any circumstance.

California OTA Schools

#1 American Career College-Orange County Campus

The Occupational therapy assistant school at American Career College offers a 20-month certified Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. The program has a uniquely blended classroom, clinical, and laboratory learning.

The class curriculum has been developed to promote the development and shaping of intellectual skills. Students will recognize facts, procedural patterns, and concepts. 

American Career College
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campus	Orange County Campus
Public or Private-	Private college
Program Director-	Jeni Dulek, OTD, OTR/L, CHEP
Course Duration-	20-month
Class Size	Up to 44 students per year
OTA Class begins	In July
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website; Interview with the program director.
Minimum Requirement	A background clearance at the time of enrollment; If you have your High School diploma or equivalent, you’ll need to take the Wonderlic SLE entrance evaluation exam as one of the college entrance requirements; Minimum 70% score on the HESI Entrance Exam; Two professional reference letters; Interview with the OTA Program Director and/or OTA faculty; *Other program specific factors such as previous course work, volunteer/work experience, etc. may be weighted during the admissions process.
Address	Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 1200 N. Magnolia Avenue Anaheim, CA 92801-2607 Email – ebeltran@americancareercollege.edu
Website	americancareercollege.edu/

#2 CBD College

The Occupational therapy assistant school at CBD College offers an 80-week certified Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. The school has dedicated faculty and staff, which offers you hands-on training. The school also has State-of-the-Art Classrooms and Laboratories and a large network of Clinical Externship sites.

The OTA School provides NBCOT Board Exam Preparation and Employment Assistance at no extra cost.

CBD College
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campus	Los Angeles Campus
Public or Private-	Private non-profit college
Program Director-	—
Course Duration-	5-module 80 weeks
Class Size	Up to 57 students per year
OTA Class begins	In October
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website; Interview with the admission representative.
Minimum Requirement	Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, or completed Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree. Provide essay/questionnaire; Present valid government picture ID; Pass the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Examination (SLE) Test and Wonderlic Advanced Skills Test (WAST).
Address	Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 3699 Wilshire Blvd., 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010 Email- info@cbd.edu
Website	www.cbd.edu

#3 Grossmont College

The Occupational therapy assistant school at Grossmont College offers a 2-year certified Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. In addition to the core curriculum, the major requires selected general education courses from the biological, social and behavioral sciences. OTA core courses are offered evenings only. Clinical Practicum experiences are available daytime and possible weekends only.

The OTA Program utilizes Canvas for all courses. There are hybrid courses and online courses included in the OTA Program. Students must have basic computer skills to be successful in the OTA Program.

Grossmont College
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campus	El Cajon, CA
Public or Private-	Public college
Program Director-	Christi Vicino, MA, OTA/L
Course Duration-	2-year program
Class Size	26 students per year
OTA Class begins	In summer
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website.
Prerequisites	Biology 144 and 145 – Anatomy & Physiology I and II (or equivalent); OR Biology 140 (Anatomy), 141 (Physiology) or equivalent; Total (minimum) units = 8.
Minimum Requirement	Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, or completed Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree; Request two official college transcripts for all college credit earned; Proof of vaccinations- MMR, Hepatitis B, Tdap, Varicella; Basic computer skills.
Address	Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 8800 Grossmont College Drive El Cajon, CA 92020-1799 Email- christi.vicino@gcccd.edu
Website	www.grossmont.edu

#4 Sacramento City College

The Occupational therapy assistant school at Sacramento City College offers a 2-year certified Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. The OTA program is offered on Monday through Thursday in the evening and on Saturdays, with the exception of clinical fieldwork, which is scheduled during weekday business hours.

Sacramento City College
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campus	Sacramento, CA
Public or Private-	Public college
Program Chair-	Ada Boone Hoerl, MA, COTA/L
Course Duration-	2-year program
Class Size	32 students per year
OTA Class begins	In Spring
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website.
Minimum Requirement	all official transcripts; Completion of AH 106, AH 110, BIOL 100 or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431, ENGWR 300 or ENGWR 488, OTA 100, PSYC 300 or PSYC 480, and PSYC 370 or FCS 324 with grades of “C” or better and cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in these courses.
Address	Science and Allied Health Division Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 3835 Freeport Boulevard Sacramento, CA 95822-1386 SCC-OTAInfo@scc.losrios.edu
Website	www.scc.losrios.edu/ota/

#5 Santa Ana College

The Occupational therapy assistant school at Santa Ana College offers a 2-year certified Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. The OTA School admits students 2 times in a year i.e. spring and fall. Both the spring-start and fall-start programs have a combination of online and on-campus lectures which require students to be on campus two days per week.  In the Fall-start program classes will start at noon on one day per week and 3 pm on the other day.

Santa Ana College
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campus	Santa Ana, CA
Public or Private-	Public college
Program Director-	Michelle Parolise, MBA, OTR/L
Course Duration-	2-year program
Class Size	60 students per year
OTA Class begins	In Spring and Fall
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website.
Prerequisites	Biology 149, Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab; Communication Studies 101 or 101L,Introduction to Interpersonal Communication; or Communication Studies 102, Public Speaking; or Communication Studies 140, Argumentation and Debate; or Communication Studies 145, Group Dynamics; English 101 or 101L, Freshman Composition Psychology 100 or 100 H, Introduction to Psychology.
Minimum Requirement	Demonstrate completion of the Math graduation requirement. Students need to have either completed the Level III Math placement test at Santa Ana College or provide official transcripts demonstrating completion of an Intermediate Algebra course, or higher, with a grade of “C” or better. This requirement does not pertain to students that hold a Bachelor’s degree.
Address	Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 1530 West 17th Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-3398 Email- ota@sac.edu
Website	www.sac.edu/OTA

# 6 Stanbridge University

The Occupational therapy assistant school at Stanbridge University offers a 2-year Occupational Therapy Assistants associate degree program. The OTA program is offered in 2 campuses i.e. Irvine and Los Angeles. The LA campus has got Candidacy Status from ACOTE and can take admission in the program.

Why choose Stanbridge University-

• Good NBCOT-COTA exam passing rate;
• Hands-on learning in eight world-class Therapy Skills Labs- access to a multitude of exercise equipment, adaptive equipment, mobility devices, therapeutic activities, positioning devices, physical agent modalities, and home simulation area;
• small class size and high faculty-to-student ratio;
• 3D labs- one of the largest virtual reality lab; advance 3D technology;
• Digital classrooms;
• Human cadaver lab;       
• Career-oriented teaching;
• Located in the heart of Southern California;
• Part time-full time option.

Stanbridge University
Degree Offered–	Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level)
University Campuses	Irvine Campus Los Angeles Campus
Public or Private-	Private college
Program Director-	—
Course Duration-	24 months for full time; 30 months for part time.
Class Size	130-140 students per year (Irvine campus).
OTA Admission	—
Application Procedure	Apply to the OTA program through college’s website.
Minimum Requirement	Provide proof of high school graduation, a GED or a higher degree; Complete entrance questionnaire; Attend an interview with a designated member of the OTA faculty; Complete enrollment paperwork; Attend an orientation prior to the start of your program.
Address	Irvine Campus- Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 2041 Business Center Drive, #107 Irvine, CA 92612-1105 Los Angeles Campus- Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 2215 W. Mission Road Alhambra, CA 91803-1310 learn@stanbridge.edu
Website	www.stanbridge.edu/ota

“Applicant” Occupational therapy Assistant schools in California-

These are the new OTA educational programs in California seeking accreditation (not yet holding Candidacy Status). Until Candidacy Status has been granted by ACOTE, these schools cannot admit students into the OTA program in California.

#1 Clovis Community College
10309 N. Willow Avenue
Fresno, CA 93730-5401
james.vea@cloviscollege.edu
www.cloviscollege.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OTA – entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

#2 Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos
111 Campus Way
San Marcos, CA 92078
mdoctor@pmi.edu
www.pmi.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OTA – entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

#3 Platt College-Anaheim
1551 S. Douglass Road
Anaheim, CA 92806-5949
mclifton@plattcollege.edu
http://plattcollege.edu/
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OTA – entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

#4 San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno Campus
295 E. Sierra Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710-3616
angela.heinz@sjvc.edu
www.sjvc.edu 
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OTA – entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

Occupational Therapy Schools in California-

There are 9 Occupational therapy schools which offer an entry-level Master of Science degree in OT or OTD. Master degree / Doctorate degree in OT is required to become an Occupational therapist.

List of OT schools-

1. California State University, Dominguez Hills
2. Dominican University of California
3. Loma Linda University (LLU)
4. Samuel Merritt University
5. San Jose State University
6. Stanbridge University
7. University of Southern California (USC)
8. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences – California Campus
9. West Coast University.

 Get complete info about the OT Schools in California

Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs in California-

The job outlook for occupational therapy assistant is very good in California. Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities (as per the United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 2010 employed and licensed occupational therapy Assistants in California in May 2017 and the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in California for the occupational therapist (OT/OTR) and occupational therapy Assistant (OTA/COTA).

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in California-

Employment and salaries for Occupational Therapy Assistants vary based on work setting and geographical location. The current salary range in the local area is $37,000-$55,000 annually with an estimated 30% increase in jobs over the next 10 years. (Retrieved from http://swz.salary.com)

As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapy assistant in California was $63,000 (in 2017) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy assistants were $62,920 and $30.25 respectively in May 2017.